Liverpool Vs Everton | Pienaar receives red card for second yellow

Description of incident: After escaping a red card earlier in the game, Pienaar eventually received his marching orders deep into injury time. He challenged for a header with Gerrard; Gerrard won the ball and ended up on the floor, clutching his head. The ref showed a second yellow, then red to Pienaar.

Date of Game: Saturday 6th February 2010

Home Team: Liverpool | Away Team: Everton

Referee: Martin Atkinson | Linesman: David Richardson & Darren Cann

Decision Type: Red card | Verdict: | Decision Difficulty: 2/5

Affect on Result: N/A | Winner: Liverpool | Loser: Everton

Players Involved: Steven Pienaar (Everton) & Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)

Summary: It was a challenge borne out of frustration as he was clearly late and video replays show he was also looking at the player, not the ball. This still doesn't explain to me why Gerrard went down holding his barnet, as Pienaar did not come anywhere near his head with any part of his body. Regardless, it was a stupid challenge and Pienaar has no one to blame for his red card other than himself. Right decision, second yellow & red card.

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Cheers,
WB

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Liverpool Vs Everton | Kyrgiakos receives red card

Description of incident: Fellaini was in control of the ball in the middle of the pitch but it was skipping tantalizingly away from him. Enough to tempt a challenge from Kyrgiakos. He was clearly on the ground, so it could not be classed as a high challenge, but it did appear two-footed. Fellaini also prepared for the contact and both players ended up in agonising heaps. As Kyrgiakos was just about to get back on his feet, the ref brandished a red card.

Date of Game: Saturday 6th February 2010

Home Team: Liverpool | Away Team: Everton

Referee: Martin Atkinson | Linesman: David Richardson & Darren Cann

Decision Type: Red card | Verdict: | Decision Difficulty: 2/5

Affect on Result: N/A | Winner: Everton | Loser: Liverpool

Players Involved: Sotirios Kyrgiakos (Liverpool) & Marouane Fellaini (Everton)

Summary: The ball was racing away from Fellaini, so Kyrgiakos was entitled to attempt to win the ball. However, he clearly went in with both feet which is an illegal challenge deserving of a red card under the current laws. In his defence, video replays suggest that Fellaini also went in two-footed, he certainly came down dangerously on Kyrgiakos' shin - which the defender complained about after receiving his red. It was a strange one because I cannot ever recall seeing red cards given to two players for one tackle on each other - but maybe there was a case for it here. I've gone for right decision overall though, only one red card warranted.

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Cheers,
WB

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Liverpool Vs Everton | Pienaar high challenge on Mascherano receives yellow

Description of incident: Pienaar came in with a high challenge on Mascherano, connecting about knee high on the Argentine, leading with his studs. The ref gave a free kick to Liverpool and booked Steven Pienaar despite loud calls for a red card.

Date of Game: Saturday 6th February 2010

Home Team: Liverpool | Away Team: Everton

Referee: Martin Atkinson | Linesman: David Richardson & Darren Cann

Decision Type: Red card | Verdict: | Decision Difficulty: 3/5

Affect on Result: It would have put Everton down to ten men prior to Liverpool losing a man, so it's impossible to tell how different the game would have been had Pienaar received a red | Winner: Everton | Loser: Liverpool

Players Involved: Steven Pienaar (Everton) & Javier Mascherano (Liverpool)

Summary: Pienaar's challenge was awful. I don't like seeing players sent off but, under the current guidelines, it had to be a straight red. Jamie Redknapp, commenting for Sky Sports, said he was amazed that it didn't result in a broken leg for Mascherano, which I think summarises what type of challenge it was. The ref bottled this one, maybe because it was the first major incident in the game, but he definitely got it wrong, it should have been red not yellow.



Cheers,
WB

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Liverpool Vs Bolton | Clean sheet

Date of Game: Saturday 30th January 2010

Home Team: Liverpool | Away Team: Bolton Wanderers

Referee: Steve Bennett | Linesman: Mick McDonough & Shaun Procter-Green

Summary: No major refereeing decisions, clean sheet to Mr Bennett.

Full match highlights from

Liverpool v Bolton Wanderers
by gonzobot110

Cheers,
WB

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Wolverhampton Vs Liverpool | No major refereeing incidents

Date of Game: Tuesday 26th January 2010

Home Team: Wolverhampton Wanderers | Away Team: Liverpool

Referee: Peter Walton | Linesman: Rob Lewis & Phil Sharp

Summary: From the highlights I've seen, there was very little incident of any description in this game. The third and final 'clean sheet' of the night.

Cheers,
WB

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Liverpool Vs Tottenham | Ngog awarded penalty

Description of incident: The ball was bouncing on the edge of the Tottenham penalty area as Ngog came racing forward. He got his foot to the ball as Bassong, coming from inside the penalty area, made a challenge. Ngog came crashing down and the referee gave a penalty.

Date of Game: Wednesday 20th January 2010


Home Team: Liverpool | Away Team: Tottenham

Referee: Howard Webb | Linesman: Peter Kirkup & Shaun Procter-Green

Decision Type: Penalty | Verdict: | Decision Difficulty: 5/5

Affect on Result: I don't believe Tottenham would have scored in the time remaining so, none | Winner: Liverpool | Loser: Tottenham

Players Involved: Sebastien Bassong (Tottenham) & David Ngog (Liverpool)

Summary: Another really tough decision. I think it's an obvious foul so there are two things that we need to take into account here. Firstly, was it inside the area? Based mainly upon Bassong's position, I believe the contact did take place inside the area. Even with a number of video replays I found it hard to know for sure - but I have only managed to find 2 different camera angles so far. Secondly, was Bassong in control of the ball? You have to say that he wasn't. The ball was almost in Gomes' hands by the time Ngog fell to the ground. I've seen them given and being honest, I've changed my verdict from right to wrong whilst writing this summary. It was such a rough challenge I think you get distracted from how hard Ngog had kicked the ball. No penalty, wrong decision by the referee.

I'm glad this game only had two controversial refereeing decisions. The toughest game to analyse yet. By a mile.

Cheers,
WB

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Liverpool Vs Tottenham | Defoe ruled offside saving Reina's blushes

Description of incident: King launched the ball forward from deep inside the Tottenham half. Defoe was making his way back onside and made no attempt to chase the ball. As it dropped 30 yards from Liverpool's goal Reina came racing out as Kyrgiakos reached the ball & passed it back to the Spanish stopper. At this point Defoe, from an onside position, came forward to challenge Reina who, in the meantime, had got his feet in a real tangle. Defoe simply rolled the ball into the empty net. As it rolled towards the line, the ref blew his whistle to award offside. Phew!

Date of Game: Wednesday 20th January 2010

Home Team: Liverpool | Away Team: Tottenham

Referee: Howard Webb | Linesman: Peter Kirkup & Shaun Procter-Green

Decision Type: Offside | Verdict: | Decision Difficulty: 5/5

Affect on Result: Denied Spurs an equaliser & who's to say which way the game would have swung if it had gone to 1-1 | Winner: Liverpool | Loser: Tottenham

Players Involved: Jermain Defoe (Tottenham), Jose Reina & Sotirios Kyrgiakos (Liverpool)

Summary: I've given this decision a difficulty score of 5 as I think the state of the current offside rule is almost impossible to interpret. Phase 2 onside or whatever it's called creates too much of a grey area. I'm all for going back to the simple days of blowing for offside when the ball was originally launched forward. Having said all that, assuming I'm understanding the laws of the game correctly, Defoe was not offside. Once Kyrgiakos touches the ball, Defoe is instantly onside. I'm not even sure it matters whether he'd made his way onside or not. "Phase 2" starts with the defenders touch. But even if I'm wrong there, the fact is Defoe did make his way back onside AND had made not attempt to challenge for or chase the ball prior to Kyrgiakos' touch. Tough decision, but the goal should have stood.

I actually found this decision painful to make.

Cheers,
WB

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Stoke City Vs Liverpool | Huth goal ruled onside

Description of incident: In a hectic final few minutes of normal time, Stoke swung a corner into the Liverpool area. Higginbotham climbed higher than anyone else to head the ball towards the back post where Huth was unmarked to stab the ball into the Liverpool net. Goal given.

Date of Game: Saturday 16th January 2010

Home Team: Stoke City | Away Team: Liverpool

Referee: Lee Mason | Linesman: Simon Long & Mo Matadar

Decision Type: Offside | Verdict: | Decision Difficulty: 1/5

Affect on Result: N/A | Winner: Stoke City | Loser: Liverpool

Players Involved: Danny Higginbotham, Robert Huth (Stoke City) & Emiliano Insua (Liverpool)

Summary: Easy offside call, despite Liverpool's synchronised arm raising. Right decision as Insua was playing Huth onside on the opposite side of the six yard box.

Cheers,
WB

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Stoke City Vs Liverpool | Fuller penalty shout

Description of incident: Fighting it out in his usual style with several Liverpool players on the right hand side of the area, Fuller went tumbling over a Kyrgiakos' leg. The referee gave a corner to Stoke City.

Date of Game: Saturday 16th January 2010

Home Team: Stoke City | Away Team: Liverpool

Referee: Lee Mason | Linesman: Simon Long & Mo Matadar

Decision Type: Penalty | Verdict: | Decision Difficulty: 1/5

Affect on Result: N/A | Winner: Liverpool | Loser: Stoke City

Players Involved: Ricardo Fuller (Stoke City) & Sotirios Kyrgiakos (Liverpool)

Summary: Easy decision, Kyrgiakos clearly touched the ball before contact with the player and it was such a melee in the area it would have been almost impossible to give a penalty.

Cheers,
WB

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Stoke City Vs Liverpool | Lucas penalty shout & booking for diving

Description of incident: Lucas played a neat one-two as he entered the right hand side of the Stoke City penalty area. Higginbotham came across to challenge Lucas as he came onto the exquisite return ball. Lucas went tumbling as the ball went over the byline with both referee & linesman agreed with the decision of no penalty & goal kick to Stoke. The ref then booked Lucas for diving.

Date of Game: Saturday 16th January 2010

Home Team: Stoke City | Away Team: Liverpool

Referee: Lee Mason | Linesman: Simon Long & Mo Matadar

Decision Type: Penalty | Verdict: | Decision Difficulty: 4/5
Decision Type: Booking for diving | Verdict: | Decision Difficulty: 2/5

Affect on Result: Hard to say for definite as it occurred much earlier than the rest of the real action however, arguably cost Liverpool the game | Winner: Stoke City | Loser: Liverpool

Players Involved: Leiva Lucas (Liverpool) & Danny Higginbotham (Stoke City)

Summary: I'm taking the referee's position into account, as his view of the incident was a difficult one; Lucas did appear to be tumbling before contact with Higginbotham. However, as Andy Gray pointed out during the live commentary of Sky Sports, it's not Lucas' job to get out of the way of the challenge. And Higginbotham's challenge was a rash one. So, although I expect these types of calls to go either way, I still feel it was a penalty and Lee Mason got it wrong. Although on this occasion, I feel more criticism lies with the linesman as he had a better view. With regards to the booking for diving, I saw this as a relatively easy decision and felt the ref also got this one wrong. I think he was justifying his no penalty decision by making this call on the dive. Was Lucas looking for the penalty? Yes. Does that mean it wasn't a penalty or that Lucas should be punished? No.

Cheers,
WB

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Manifesto: Judging Premier League Referees' Descisions

I've decided to start reviewing the most critical decisions made by Premier League referees.  Those that have a direct affect on the outcome of the game; offside, free-kick, penalty, red card & goal line decisions.  Consider that an inclusive rather than exclusive list.

This is not spawned out of any particular dislike for referees or any perceived injustice against the team I support, I will be looking for the good as well the bad.  And it will extend, where necessary, to decision of the linesmen (or, officially, Assistant Referees - but that is the last time I will refer to them as such) and 4th officials.

Rather than looking to publicly lambaste referees on a weekly basis, my gut feeling is that I'll demonstrate what a difficult job they have, how often they actually get key decisions right and how, even with hindsight and slow motion video replays, it can still be difficult to come to a definitive conclusion.  Don't get me wrong, I am as big a critic as anyone else when I'm watching a game so I'll just as happy if my gut feeling turns out to be wrong.

The analysis will be restricted to Premier League games only, looking for any patterns that may emerge from the performance of referees.  This will become more apparent when reviewing the 2010/11 season in full however, I hope to provide some insights into the 2009/10 season even though I am kicking off in January 2009.

As a bit of a warm-up, I took a look at the FA Cup games that took place yesterday (Saturday 2nd).  And if this is anything to go by, my gut feelings will be proved right as we see a really good day for referees:

1. Reading vs Liverpool | David Richardson | Linesman | Not flagging Kuyt offside when he dummied Gerrard's shot for Liverpool's goal | Decision:
   
2. Nottingham Forest vs Birmingham City | Steve Bennett | Referee | Awarding a penalty to Forest for a foul on Anderson | Decision:
   
3. Middlesbrough vs Man City | Stuart Atwell | Referee | Not giving a penalty to Middlesbrough & booking O'Neil for diving:
1. No penalty | Decision:
2. Booking | Decision:
4. Everton vs Carlisle | John Flynn or Darren Drysdale (TBC) | Linesman | Flagging James Vaughn offside when he "scored" his second | Decision:
5. Everton vs Carlisle | Jon Moss | Referee | Awarding Everton a penalty for a foul on Agard | Decision:
6. MK Dons vs Burnley | Anthony Bates | Referee | Awarding Burnley a penalty for a foul on Fletcher | Decision:
7. MK Dons vs Burnley | Michael Murphy or Ian Smedley (TBC) | Linseman | Not flagging Fletcher offside when scoring Burnley's second | Decision:
8. MK Dons vs Burnley | Michael Murphy or Ian Smedley (TBC) | Linseman | Not flagging Morgan offside when he scored MK Dons' consolation goal | Decision:
9. Aston Villa vs Blackburn | Howard Webb | Referee | Awarding a penalty to Blackburn for a foul on Reid | Decision:
10. Aston Villa vs Blackburn | Howard Webb | Referee | Sending off Diouf for a (truly awful) foul | Decision:
11. Aston Villa vs Blackburn | Howard Webb | Referee | Awarding Aston Villa a penalty for a foul on Carew | Decision:
12. Tottenham vs Peterborough | Lee Mason | Referee | Awarding Tottenham a penalty for a foul on Rose | Decision:
13. Fulham vs Swindon Town | Anthony Taylor | Awarding Fulham a penalty for a foul on Johnson | Decision:
14. Blackpool vs Ipswich Town | Eddie Ilderton | Referee | Awarding Blackpool a penalty for foul on Omorod | Decision:
15. Blackpool vs Ipswich Town | Eddie Ilderton | Referee | Sending Evatt off for Blackpool | Decision:
16. Blackpool vs Ipswich Town | Eddie Ilderton | Referee | Sending Edwards off for Blackpool | Decision: (but it was a foul)
17. Preston NE vs Colchester Utd | Colin Webster | Referee | Awarding a penalty to Preston for a foul on Parkin | Decision:

So, onto the real thing - kicking off with mid-week analysis of any key decisions in Stoke vs Fulham on Tuesday and Arsenal vs Bolton on Wednesday.

And this will be, by a massive distance, my longest post ever.

Cheers,
WB

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